Month: May 2025

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

People who search for their past, forgetting the importance of living now, lose their future.”
                    –Donald L. Robertson  (Forgotten Season)

       “But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.”
                    –Matthew 6:33(Amplified)
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One more look at the duty of the Father (and Mother) and the listening requirements of the child — call it Proverbs 4:1-9, part two.  This morning we focus on verses 5-9.

          5 — Get wisdom!  Get understanding!  Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
          6 — Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will keep you.
          7 — Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom.  And in all your getting, get understanding.
          8 — Exalt her, and she will promote you; she will bring you honor, when you embrace her.
          9 — She will place on your head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory she will deliver to you.   (NKJV)

The ESV translates verse 5, “Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.”  So many roll their eyes when their parents begin to tell them the way to walk.  Old fogeys, they think.  Shame–instead they should listen, take it to heart.  There are many needs that begin with life and will not cease until death.  One of the primary ones is to get wisdom.  Without wisdom how will the needs and issues of life be dealt with?  
     Wisdom is valuable; it is precious.  Think of the words of Jesus, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” (Matthew 13:44-46, NKJV)  Wisdom is one of those pearls.  True wisdom is rare and precious.
     With wisdom we have that inner voice which will guide us if we remain true to God’s instruction, His words of wisdom.  Dan Dick states, “Doing what we know to be right offers not only freedom from guilt, but also a joy which comes forth from our soul.”  Be wise then and your soul will be kept.  Those words of verse 6 could be translated, “she will stand sentry over you.”  Wisdom will help guard us.  The words of Samuel Miller carry much truth, “Each wise thing that we do makes us wiser.”
     The principal thing!  Get it, hold it, live by it.  “Real wisdom is the knowledge of God and all His handiworks.” (Dick)  Therefore we must start with God.  We are given life to enjoy; it is a gift from God, but to enjoy it we must first come to Him.  We must enjoy life with godly wisdom, not with man’s.  “Weeds and thistles only will be the spontaneous produce if the ground is not broken up and good seed sown.” (Horne)  Let true, godly wisdom be the seed that is sown in your life, and when that happens “the pleasures of wisdom exceed all others–in kind, degree, and duration.” (Horne)
     Which is it that you seek?  Fame or honor?  Wisdom will bring honor but not necessarily fame.  Fame is loud and noisy applause while honor is silent and internal homage.  Oh, with honor may come a measure of fame, but that is not what is sought in the heart of the prudent.  “Fame floats on the breath of the multitude; honor rests on the judgment of the thinking.” (Blair)  Fame is awards and congratulations while honor seeks the will of God.  
     As mentioned in yesterday’s writing, there are two major problems:  Fathers are not teaching properly (or at all), and children are not listening.  There is a world of hurt and evil out there for the one who does not heed the voice and words of the heavenly Father.  Perhaps the real problem is as J. Vernon McGee states, “The real difficulty is that in man there is not that love and longing for God and for the things of God.”

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Let the sign speak to you. They have much to tell you, but you must look, listen, and learn.”
                    –B.N. Rundell  (Last Chance Gulch)

       “It is better to listen to rebuke from a wise person than to listen to the song of fools.”

                    –Ecclesiastes 7:5 (HCSB)
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Sometimes we have the tendency to read over Scripture without really looking at what the Holy Spirit is trying to tell us.  Proverbs 4 begins with some vital information regarding how to live with instructions to parents and children.

          1 — Hear my children, the instruction of a father, and give attention to know understanding.
          2 — For I give you good doctrine:  do not forsake my law.
          3 — When I was my father’s son, tender and the only one in the sight of my mother,
          4 — He also taught me, and said to me:  let your heart retain my words; keep my commands, and live.   (NKJV)
(ESV)
          1 — Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight,
          2 — for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching.
          4 — he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.”

     Instead of dead-beat dads and those who have abandoned the family it would behoove fathers to speak like this to their children.  It would change society if fathers would take up their role and responsibilities and teach their children properly.  Think of the difference it would make if fathers would teach their children properly.  Down deep it is a spiritual problem.  J. Vernon McGee writes, “The real difficulty is that in man there is not that love and longing for God and for the things of God.”  If man truly loved God they would desire that their children would also love Him.  
     Parents are responsible for the existence of their children:  conception, nurturing, education.  “The child is given to its parent by God in its undeveloped moral condition, but God retains His own inheritance in the gift.  He looks for nurture, for cultivation.  He demands from the parent such a fulfillment of parental duties as will ensure Him that His gift shall grow of more and more worth in the moral universe.” (J.L. Flores)  
     However, there is a second requirement presented–Listen!  The neglect of listening to instruction is a sin against self, society, and God.  It is up to the child to receive the Word and instruction of their parents and cherish it.  There must be the willingness to be taught, for a computer mind is not enough to make it through this world and into eternity, wisdom is needed.  Wisdom, proper teaching/instruction should be taught from one generation to the next.  It is the way to preserve truth, heritage, and traditions.  
     The father is depicted as giving good doctrine, or precepts.  Know this, that good doctrine, instruction in life, brings good character.  However, is starts with the right concept of God.  J.L. Flores reminds us that there “can be no right feelings towards God unless there has been right teaching about Him.”  That, first of all is the responsibility of the home, not the state.  Listen – without good character the result is bad character.  Without the proper knowledge of God there cannot be good character.  Flores states, “A man must know God as He is before he can begin to follow Him.  There must be a true mirror to give correct reflection.”  But if the father, the mother, is not diligent in their teaching and if the child does not care to listen the result is a confused, chaotic society.  
     This world is a big, bad, mad, and evil place therefore–LISTEN!  Get wisdom, hold fast to it, then live the life properly as you have been taught.  Someone has used the illustration that God is calling out to us, “Come and get it.”  First is the call for salvation, to accept Jesus Christ, and second, is the call to believers to gain understanding from God’s Word.  The primary item on the menu in Proverbs is that of wisdom–come and get it.  Embrace the security, honor, and beauty that it offers.  Realize that most of society’s problems are a mistaken view of God and the lack of proper teaching to the children.  A mistaken view of God brings with it soul disease.  
     Know this that is it up to us as parents and as “students” to give out God’s Word, to listen to God’s Word, and then to obey it.  “There’s a price to pay if you want to know God’s truth and obey it.” (Wiersbe).  There is also a price to pay, an eternal one, if the truth of God is not accepted.  Listen now and obey.

 

The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on
Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor.”  — Ecclesiastes 4:9 (NLT)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
     I didn’t say anything else, but quickly snapped the handcuffs on the wrists of so-called John Smith.  He jerked back, but it was too late, the cuffs were already on and tight.
“Why’d you do that for?  I’m not part of McGinnis’ gang!”
     All I could do is smile then replied, “We’ll let the courts and a jury decide that.”
     “No, you can’t…”
     I was up and back over where Doc was working on McGinnis who was now conscious.  “What’s the verdict?” I inquired, looking down at the bloody man.  
     “He’s fortunate, there’s no place where the lead hit a vein or artery.  He might never regain full use of that arm, a couple of pieces tore up the joint, but he should live barring infection,” he paused to glance at my shoulder.  “I need to get you patched up.”
     “Let’s wait until we get down to the jail, then you can sew me up.”  I took a step up on one of the chairs and hollered, “As of now, and further notice, this saloon is officially closed!”  There was some grumbling but men started moving toward the doorway.  One man, holding his arm, looked my direction.  I nodded, then waved for him to come to me.  
     When he approached I stepped down off the chair as most of the crowd was out the door.  “You all right?” I asked, then looked at the Doc.
     “Bullet went right through the meaty part of his arm.  He’ll be okay, but won’t be swinging any hammers for a while.”  
     My attention went back to the wounded man.  “Got a name?”
     “Osian Beavin,” he answered with a slight accent.  “That’ll be up to the boss if’n he has anything that I can do.”
     He wasn’t downcast or anxious over the situation.  “You get fired come on down to Durango, I’ll see that you get some work to see you through.”
     “I’d be grateful to yuh, Marshal,” he said half-smiling.  “Just in the right place at the wrong time, or something like that.”  He nodded then turned to leave bumping into the undertaker on the way out.
     He turned in my direction shaking his head.  “Marshal, it seems that you have the tendency to throw work my way.”
     “Mister Lawton, I leave the deceased in your hands.  Make sure the place is locked up when you leave.  I imagine the keys are behind the bar or on the corpse on the floor.”
My attention went back to the doctor and McGinnis, “Let’s go down to the jail.”  I grabbed John Smith by the collar and started for the door.
     There was grumbling behind me from McGinnis.  “I can’t walk, I hurt too bad.”
     Lifting the Greener, I turned to McGinnis, “You walk, stumble, or crawl, but if you can’t make it I’ll give you a thump and drag you.”
     He lowered his head and began to shuffle towards the entrance with the doc next to him.
     On the way I had to have Smith help the Doc half carry McGinnis to the jail, but we made it and it only took a couple of hard bangs on the door and my hollering for Tanner to open it up.  “Hey, Charlie, I brought you some company.”
     The deputy was wide-eyed, still nervous and looked out the door to see if any one was following us.  “Yur alive?” he muttered.
     “Yep, the good Lord sent a band of angels to watch over me.  Evil was put in its place for the time bein’.  Now help me get these two situated.”
     Within minutes we had the two in cells.  Doc checked McGinnis again to make sure that he wasn’t bleeding and told me to sit and found a groove on my shoulder just below the bone.  It was deep enough that he had to sew it up.  While he was doing that I thought, “another scar to add to the collection.”  I sighed, “Lord, what am I goin’ to look like when I reach heaven?”  
     “What’s that you said?” asked the doctor.  I hadn’t realized I had spoken out loud.  
     “Just askin’ the good Lord a question.”
     With that, the doctor touched my head.  I smiled.
     In a few minutes, he left and I talked to Charlie who was sitting up on his cot.  “Charlie, we have to do something about this den of iniquity.  What’s that, four marshals in the last two years and Masterson didn’t want to stay either.”
     He looked at me, then at his badge…

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

The stillness and darkness became most oppressive.”
                    –Zane Grey  (The Lost Pueblo)

       “His life is the light that shines through the darkness—and the darkness can never extinguish it.”

                    –John 1:5  (TLB)
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Psalm 143 is a plea for help, yet at the same time one of trust.  As you read this psalm, think of the “enemy” that is chasing you.  It is a person, a habit, sin, sickness, or something else.  Then be like David and take appropriate action, by first coming to the Lord.

          1 — Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications!  In Your faithfulness answer me, and in Your righteousness.
          2 — Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight no one living is righteous.
          3 — For the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me dwell in darkness, like those who have long been dead.
          4 — Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is distressed.
          5 — I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your hands.
          6 — I spread out my hands to You; my soul longs for You like a thirsty land.       Selah     (NKJV)

     David is telling us that no one could ever pass God’s inspection.  We are all unrighteous before Him, and unless we come to the point of repentance we are in sore trouble.  However, with repentance there is hope, for when God looks at us He sees not our unrighteousness, but the righteousness of His Son.  David is depending upon God’s faithfulness to answer him in his need.
      Whatever the enemy is, it has crushed David.  He doesn’t feel like he can go on and is down in the dirt.  The “woe is me, nobody loves me…” syndrome is upon him, “he might want to go eat some worms.”  George Wood says that David is facing, “The nighttime of the soul brings the despair of unanswered questions.”  He is like the dead, robbed of the pleasures and enjoyments of this life.  He is crushed, overwhelmed, devastated mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.  
     Then, thank the Lord there is always “then.”  Then David remembers how God was with him in the past.  He remembers God’s word and how God has brought him through many trials.  Have you ever been thirsty to the point of not thinking of anything but a cool, quenching drink of water?  David finds that his soul is parched like the arid desert longing for the refreshing rain that comes with the Holy Spirit.  “When your inner life is cracked and dry, it’s time to lift your hands in supplication and surrender.” (Wood)  
     In times like those that David faced, and I’m sure that each of us has faced such times at least once in our life, we need to turn back to the source of our strength.  Return to the God of our salvation.  Charles H. Spurgeon said that we should, “Delight yourself in all your heavenly Father’s handwork, and make it to be a ladder by which you climb to Himself.”  Trust Him in the dark times–know that He is there.

               “Still to the lowly soul
               He doth Himself impart,
               And for His dwelling and His throne,
               Chooseth the pure in heart.”
                       –John Keble